Archive for July, 2010

I attended a very interesting service the other day, at which I learnt some lessons I would always like to remember. It was a service on inner healing.

The preacher began by explaining the major cause of unforgiveness. Many people were visibly surprised when he said that it is pride. Why pride? Because when someone offends you, you want them to see that you are hurt, angry, disappointed, and all the other negative emotions that humans experience. However, these negative emotions accumulate over time, resulting in physical manifestations such as chronic joint pains, organ failure, migraines and even cancer.

Jesus said that he came that we may have life, and have it to the full. The preacher explained that this life is both spiritual and physical. Spiritual in that we should be close to God and always happy and rejoicing; physical in the sense of good health, security and prosperity. He also explained that our negative emotions are not just emotions, but evil spirits that rob us of the joy we should have as Christians. Negative emotions that we think are quite natural are actually the devil’s way of killing, stealing and destroying the joyous life that Jesus died to give us.

For example, self doubt and an inferiority complex are the devil’s way of cheating you out of the promise that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. When you believe that life is too hard and that your problems are too big for any solution, then the devil has succeeded in cheating you that God does not have a plan for your happiness, good health and prosperity.

When you refuse to forgive your enemy because you think that the offence is too great, you are actually doing yourself a great injustice. The longer you stay angry, the longer you keep away the Holy Spirit, because he only inhabits a calm and gentle soul. The more you plot revenge against your enemy, the more you tell God that you don’t believe he can protect you and restore all the harvests that were destroyed in the locust invasion.

If you’re health conscious, think about this: the more you hold on to your hurt, the wider you open up your body to all kinds of diseases.

“And we know that in all things we are more than conquerors, through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37

Once in a while people confide in me, pouring out their hearts on their many problems, and desperately hoping for God to provide a solution. Although I encourage them to have faith and stand strong in the Lord, I know that is far from easy to take that message to heart especially during times of turmoil.

I know for a fact that problems are created in the attempt to divert our attention from accepting God’s presence in our lives. God wants our focus to always be on Him, simply because, when we lose sight of God’s perspective, we blindly tumble towards our own destruction.

God knows how the ways of this world try to lure us into turning away from Him. When problems come our way, and we focus on them, they continue dragging us further and further away, until we are fully parted from our Godly mindset. The more we separate ourselves from focusing on God, the more we forget His word and the more vulnerable we are to adopting the earthly way of thinking; where we allow problems to drown us in a pool of worries, confusion and panic.

Through the apostle Paul, God assures us that we are more than conquerors in all we do. So in times of trouble, if those words can echo in our minds, and if we choose to have firm faith in them, knowing that God has declared us more than conquerors, more than champions, then we will be transformed in how we handle challenges. It’s like going to play a football match against a mediocre team. If you are intimidated by the team, you might end up losing, but if you face the team with the confidence of a winner, then you will play like a winner and triumph like a winner. It is all in the mindset. Therefore, when challenged with difficulties, recognise that you stand in God’s word and you have already been declared the victor in all you do.

So how can one be able to adopt a Godly mind set? The only way to adopt God’s way of thinking is to get deeper into His word. Develop your relationship with Him through prayer and daily devotion. Like any relationship, the one you have with God requires time, attention and commitment. As your relationship with God grows, He will gradually reveal Himself to you. The more you know God, the more you trust in Him. As your trust in Him grows, the stronger your faith will be.

In the book of Romans chapter 12, Paul also tells us that our minds should no longer be conformed to the motifs of this world, but instead be transformed in our way of thinking. We decide what manifests in our minds. If we allow our minds to be filled with fear and worries, it will reflect in the way we live. If we allow God’s words to take root in our minds, it will manifest in our lifestyle. We will begin to reflect His nature and being. The word says God made man in His image, so there is no reason for us to think that we can never reflect His nature.

So I urge you to fasten your minds on God and take hold of His word. Do not allow thoughts of fear and discomfort to dwell in your psyche, but allow the truth of God’s word to shape your mind. We

When facing problems, you should always remember that the God who breathed life into you has made you a conqueror of anything you will ever face. God will always provide a new perspective on your situation and he will empower you with the strength you require to get through it.

1 Samuel 1:10-13a “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD……Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard.”

Today a person I care very deeply for wrote to me and said God does answer prayers. Only that morning had she prayed earnestly for help…not knowing how, or where or whom; only knowing and believing that God would be able to deliver her out of her strife.

I read her email and saw her pain, her anguish and her joy at salvation. In her email I read all the emotions I had experienced when I was in desperate need for an answered prayer. I knew how it felt to be praying for something so earnestly and deeply it brings you to your knees; you sob endlessly being unable to form the words in your mouth but your heart screaming out to be heard. Not knowing how long you would have to endure turmoil until you were alleviated from your situation.

And in those prayers I always remember wishing that God would send someone…anyone to help me. That He would release an angel who would cradle me in their arms and let me know that everything would be ok. And not only say it, but mean it and help me. And then I wished I could be that person who was called upon to help another. That without my knowing God would use me to answer another’s prayer. And I prayed for the same. Believing that God would deliver me, I believed in turn that I should be used to help another…even if I were in pain, I should help.

Today a person I care very deeply for wrote to me and said God does answer prayers. And I believe her. God answered my prayers in a way I’ve not been able to stop thanking him for His intervention. And simultaneously used me to answer somebody else’s prayer. He knew that on Monday morning she would be praying to Him for help…so on Saturday delivered me from my pain, and on Sunday evening he placed it in my heart to be of that help and write to her what she needed the most.

Isaiah 65:24 “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear”.